UCI Rankings

Dura Ace

According to the UCI Rankings released today, Ireland are in 18th position in the mens rankings (45th in the womens). Does anybody know how many starters this would entitle us to in the World Championships?

Daniel Martin is in 47th position, Nicolas Roche is in 113th and Philip Deignan is in 214th.

http://www.uci.ch/templates/BUILTIN-NOFRAMES/Template3/layout.asp?MenuId=MTU2MzU&LangId=1&RankType=RIDER&RankId=145

Esroh

There are all sorts of concessions and I will take correction but it looks like we can have 3

emtroche

Yep 3.

L'Enfer du Nord

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/france-netherlands-facing-reduced-worlds-representation

Pologne result to decide nine or six riders for cycling heavyweights
Traditional top cycling nations like France and Netherlands risk being represented by only six riders each at this year’s UCI Road World Championships in Mendrisio, Switzerland. The size of the squads are decided from the world and continental rankings as of August 15 and with the deadline fast approaching, some of the sport’s biggest nations could be faces with reduced numbers at next month’s race.
The top 10 nations on the world rankings are allowed nine riders in the men’s elite race. After the Clasica San Sebastian - and with only Tour de Pologne to be decided before August 15 - those nations are Spain, Italy, Australia, Germany, Russia, Luxembourg, Belgium, Great Britain, USA and Norway.

Kind of amazing that either of those counties might not be fielding a full team in the worlds, I think France are worse and have been for sometime. Gesink is better than any French prospect as far as I can see.

Pherekydes

Aren't the nation rankings a little odd? Luxembourg have 3 riders in the rankings, the 2 Schlecks and Kirchen. France have NINE riders ahead of Kirchen in the rankings, but are lower as a nation.

Norway have only 2 riders ranked but are also ahead of France.

Caroline_ie

Ireland also has Mary Costelloe who even though she is down as USA in the Junior Women Track Champs actually rides for Ireland ranked 7th for Junior Scratch and finished 4th in the European Champs last month and is the Irish Junior Champ AND also finished 3rd in the irish Womens road champs at just 19 years old: here is talent!

blorg

Pherekydes wrote: »

Aren't the nation rankings a little odd? Luxembourg have 3 riders in the rankings, the 2 Schlecks and Kirchen. France have NINE riders ahead of Kirchen in the rankings, but are lower as a nation.

Norway have only 2 riders ranked but are also ahead of France.

They add up the points of the top five riders to get the country ranks, it is not to do with the relative rankings of the individuals. The two Schlecks are very very good, they are responsible for 97% of Luxembourg's ranking (the remaining 3% being due to Kirchen.) Andy Schleck actually has more points as an individual than France does as a nation (the top five French riders combined), so Luxembourg would still be ahead of France even if he was their only rider in the rankings.

Contador is responsible for 40% of Spain's ranking, the other four riders dividing the remaining 60%.

Similar with Norway, Hushovd and Boasson are ahead of any French rider in the individual rankings and have more points between the two of them than the top five French riders together.

L'Enfer du Nord

Pherekydes wrote: »

Aren't the nation rankings a little odd? Luxembourg have 3 riders in the rankings, the 2 Schlecks and Kirchen. France have NINE riders ahead of Kirchen in the rankings, but are lower as a nation.

Norway have only 2 riders ranked but are also ahead of France.

They certainly are a little odd, however at the same time I think its fair to say that the following countires top riders are more sucessful than France's: Spain, Italy, Australia, Germany, Russia, Luxembourg, Belgium, Great Britain, USA and Norway.

France has quantity but very little quality. Plus it seems to be getting worse. Ignoring drugs(;)), Since Hinault: J-F Bernard and Mottet were better than LeBlanc+ Verenique+ Blochard+ Jalabert, who were better than Moreau + Mouncoutie who were better than Casar + Voeckler. I know I'm missing a few who had good results but Frances leading riders are just getting worse and worse. I heard the large number of domestic races being blamed.

sleapy235

France has quantity but very little quality. Plus it seems to be getting worse. Ignoring drugs(), Since Hinault: J-F Bernard and Mottet were better than LeBlanc+ Verenique+ Blochard+ Jalabert, who were better than Moreau + Mouncoutie who were better than Casar + Voeckler. I know I'm missing a few who had good results but Frances leading riders are just getting worse and worse. I heard the large number of domestic races being blam

I think people are being a bit harsh on France here. There was 4 French riders in the top 20 GC of the Tour this year, Le Mevel (10th), Casar (12th), Goubert (16th) and Chavanel (20th) as well as Pierre Rolland (22nd) and Brice Feillu (25th). No other country can boast that. There were also stage wins for Voeckler, Feillu. OK they don't have any realistic contenders for the GC at the moment but they still have a lot of quality cyclists.
Besides, I don't think any country should have nine cyclists at the World Championships, it should be limited to six. It gives the riders from the smaller cycling nations little chance when competing against such large teams.